Refugee Arrested For Putting Contaminated Needles In Hundreds of Strawberries On Strawberry Farm...

Ungrateful Former Refugee My Ut Trinh, Allegedly Female...

The 50-year-old woman who has been charged over the strawberry needle crisis was motivated by “some fight or revenge”, a court heard today.

A 50-year-old woman who has been charged with seven counts of contamination over the strawberry needle incidents that sparked a nationwide crisis has been told it is too soon to apply for bail.

The woman, My Ut Trinh, a former Queensland strawberry farm employee known as Judy, appeared in Brisbane Magistrates court today after being charged with seven counts of contamination of goods — between September 2 to 5 — with intent to cause economic loss.

According to AAP, Trinh’s lawyer Michael Cridland made a bail application but withdrew it after magistrate Christine Roney advised it was “premature” because the motivation behind the alleged contamination was still unclear.

“The case that was put is that she was motivated by some fight or revenge,” Ms Roney said.

The first discovery of needles in strawberries was on September 9 and Trinh has known she was a person of interest from September 12, the court heard.

The woman, who will remain in custody until her next hearing later in November, was arrested and charged with seven counts contamination of goods under Section 238 Criminal Code, which has a three-year maximum penalty.

A circumstance of aggravation will also be alleged, elevating the maximum to 10 years’ imprisonment.

It is understood Trinh, a former refugee who arrived in Australia by boat more than two decades ago, worked at the Berry Licious/Berry Obsession farm in southeast Queensland.

It is alleged she had grievances about her treatment at work,

According to 7 News, Trinh allegedly told others she “wanted to bring them down” and “put them out of business.”

Police launched an investigation on Sunday, September 9 after a Queensland man reported swallowing a contaminated berry. Two people in Victoria then came forward after similar experiences.

At the time, Acting Public Health director Scott McKeown warned people to carefully check any Berry Licious or Berry Obsession strawberries from interstate growers for possible contaminants.

Police say the woman’s DNA was found inside a contaminated punnet in Victoria as part of a...Read More HERE